Viewing a Vantage?
Discussion
Hi, I'm going to see a very low miles 4.7 Vantage and wondered if there is anything apart from the obvious to look for (I've read the book several times). It is at a main dealer with 'Timeless' certificate. Is this something worthwhile? I'm thinking it takes a worry out of possible purchase, am I wrong? I may not click with the car when I get there but thought I'd ask here first in case I do, cheers.
The warranty and timeless inspection gives better than "average" piece of mind...at least thats what I thought when I bought a 2012 Roadster last year from a main dealer.
The car was immaculately prepared, not a mark anywhere, other than a few professionally done stone chip repairs the paint was swirl free.
I cant say that there was anything that did not meet my expectations...much of this may be down to individual dealer. This was at AM Newcastle.
The timeless warranty is underwritten by a warranty company versus official factory warranty you get with a new car, hence the level of cover is not the same as a new car. In reality this means major component failures covered versus going back after 6 months to fix rattling trim.
You do get a check sheet of your car with the Timeless warranty, it is basically enforcing a minimum standard of preparation on the dealer before the warranty company will cover the car, and could be viewed better than say a private sale....of course, the warranty and service is built into the dealer price premium.......
The car was immaculately prepared, not a mark anywhere, other than a few professionally done stone chip repairs the paint was swirl free.
I cant say that there was anything that did not meet my expectations...much of this may be down to individual dealer. This was at AM Newcastle.
The timeless warranty is underwritten by a warranty company versus official factory warranty you get with a new car, hence the level of cover is not the same as a new car. In reality this means major component failures covered versus going back after 6 months to fix rattling trim.
You do get a check sheet of your car with the Timeless warranty, it is basically enforcing a minimum standard of preparation on the dealer before the warranty company will cover the car, and could be viewed better than say a private sale....of course, the warranty and service is built into the dealer price premium.......
Thanks, 'if' I were to buy the car and 'if' there was some sort of claim, would that particular dealer have to carry out the work? As it's quite some way from me (sea crossing). Also, would the car have to be serviced by them in meantime or could I have that done closer and maintain the warranty? My fear with these cars is pretty much the same as TVR's (of which we've both had) in as much as they tend to have a lot of owners and some are shall we say, not mechanically sympathetic, some are track day fiends and there's the fear of a hire car too. Hence me looking at low owner/low mileage as later car as possible. Original budget's gone out the window it seems.
ps; love the profile pic', printed it off, hope you don't mind.
ps; love the profile pic', printed it off, hope you don't mind.
Edited by macdeb on Friday 14th July 14:49
The warranty would be valid at any AM dealer in the UK.
I certainly think it's a warranty worth having on a car that's new to you and not known. Once you've had it for a year and you know it then you can make the call whether to extend it. Mine's a 2013 V12 and it's been in three times now for warranty work (and it's going back in again for a cracked waterfall), not once has the dealer made any noise other then we'll get that sorted.
I certainly think it's a warranty worth having on a car that's new to you and not known. Once you've had it for a year and you know it then you can make the call whether to extend it. Mine's a 2013 V12 and it's been in three times now for warranty work (and it's going back in again for a cracked waterfall), not once has the dealer made any noise other then we'll get that sorted.
My car has has a timeless warranty and I specifically asked when I collected it if any work that might be required could be done at my local main dealers. They confirmed that was definitely the case. I was obviously quite pleased as I didn't fancy a 500 mile round trip if anything ever went wrong !
The warranty is valid at all AM dealers, I bought my V8V from the recently closed Stratstone Derby so it bloody better be, luckily the newly opened Sytners Nottingham isn't much further away for me.
My original budget went out the window too, but the main dealer cars weren't that much of a premium, if at all, over the specialists/random dealers or private sales, and considering the level of prep and the warranty I decided it was worth it.
My original budget went out the window too, but the main dealer cars weren't that much of a premium, if at all, over the specialists/random dealers or private sales, and considering the level of prep and the warranty I decided it was worth it.
100% recommend! I bought a 2014 V8V a couple of months ago from AM Bristol (great experience).
When it was back for an AM exhaust upgrade, Kyle from parts noted that one of the rear light units had condensation within. Must admit I hadn't noticed (too busy pinching myself
) and it was Kyle who said that the next time it was in, it would be automatically changed under warranty. First time I've had a dealer-led warranty claim!
Each year's AM warranty is around £1k for a V8V to the best of my knowledge. The first year is always thrown in and this LED light unit replacement alone is probably the same cost (parts and fitting). Their attitude is exemplary.
I did a lot of homework before taking the plunge. I got the repeated message that these cars are fundamentally strong and hardy (refer to the recent LM24 win). However, I'm realistic that these are low volume cars developed on a budget 1/20 (if that!) of the latest Fiesta. It's never going to be a car you can neglect and expect to jump in and just get there regardless year after year without a service. It will need regular checks and maintenance which means parts beyond wear-and-tear. And being a prestige low volume brand, these parts will cost. £1k annual IMHO is therefore money well spent. Also, I'll opt for AM Bristol to service as it will better ensure the warranty is in place even though I know there are very good independents out there.
When I bought, I didn't haggle on price. Instead I asked - and politely received - a "free" second year of Timeless warranty (plus battery conditioner). In retrospect I still consider this a wise move.
Good luck in your quest! I hope it also brings you as many smiles
When it was back for an AM exhaust upgrade, Kyle from parts noted that one of the rear light units had condensation within. Must admit I hadn't noticed (too busy pinching myself
) and it was Kyle who said that the next time it was in, it would be automatically changed under warranty. First time I've had a dealer-led warranty claim!Each year's AM warranty is around £1k for a V8V to the best of my knowledge. The first year is always thrown in and this LED light unit replacement alone is probably the same cost (parts and fitting). Their attitude is exemplary.
I did a lot of homework before taking the plunge. I got the repeated message that these cars are fundamentally strong and hardy (refer to the recent LM24 win). However, I'm realistic that these are low volume cars developed on a budget 1/20 (if that!) of the latest Fiesta. It's never going to be a car you can neglect and expect to jump in and just get there regardless year after year without a service. It will need regular checks and maintenance which means parts beyond wear-and-tear. And being a prestige low volume brand, these parts will cost. £1k annual IMHO is therefore money well spent. Also, I'll opt for AM Bristol to service as it will better ensure the warranty is in place even though I know there are very good independents out there.
When I bought, I didn't haggle on price. Instead I asked - and politely received - a "free" second year of Timeless warranty (plus battery conditioner). In retrospect I still consider this a wise move.
Good luck in your quest! I hope it also brings you as many smiles
Edited by nickv8 on Friday 14th July 18:15
Just in case this helps.
You mentioned sea crossing, so perhaps you are interested in the Tempest Blue car.
I think it is a Sportshift, so make sure you understand and are happy with that. It is a 'marmite option, some like it and some hate it.
Also note the Tungsten car they have was first registered in 2009, but is a 4.3 2008 Model Year car.
At the time the 4.7 began to reach customers (Sep. 2008), there were many unsold 4.3 cars, some of which sat around for months.
Slightly off topic, but still regarding the Timeless scheme. Bought my first V8V (MY2010) in May, main dealer.
As it was all a bit rushed, I noticed things after I got home. Firstly, front wheels were corroding (only slightly, bit it was only going to get worse). The dealer said they could be refurbished at my expense. I wasn't convinced. Neither were AM. So they've been done (side note: picked the car up yesterday, not happy with the quality of refurb).
Also, the car has swirl marks, a deep scratch in the lens of the offside headlamp, and lots of scratches around the tailgate. I just thought I had to accept this as it's a seven year old car.
So what does Timeless mean exactly? The rear lights had condensation build up when I bought the car and the dealer just swapped them over with another used V8V as opposed to putting new ones in.
As it was all a bit rushed, I noticed things after I got home. Firstly, front wheels were corroding (only slightly, bit it was only going to get worse). The dealer said they could be refurbished at my expense. I wasn't convinced. Neither were AM. So they've been done (side note: picked the car up yesterday, not happy with the quality of refurb).
Also, the car has swirl marks, a deep scratch in the lens of the offside headlamp, and lots of scratches around the tailgate. I just thought I had to accept this as it's a seven year old car.
So what does Timeless mean exactly? The rear lights had condensation build up when I bought the car and the dealer just swapped them over with another used V8V as opposed to putting new ones in.
Hi,
4 months ago I purchased a 2014 V8s with 5 months manufacturers warranty remaining, I have just renewed the warranty with AM for 12 months at a cost of £1525. If you are looking to extend the warranty the key thing is to avoid the policy expiring otherwise you are faced with an extra bill of apparently around £500 for an AM inspection. I use my car daily so paying £1525 provided peace of mind especially when an AM dealer mentioned a new engine would cost £30k, whilst unlikely to happen it reminded me how much these cars can cost if something fails. When I got my car at 2.5 years old it had just under 12.5k miles since then I have added 5000. Soon after buying I had both clear rear lenses replaced due to really bad condensation, the cost for that job must of been over £1k.
My previous car was a Porsche 997 GTS which was a good car however the V8s is a different experience entirely & been a very worthwhile purchase.
James
4 months ago I purchased a 2014 V8s with 5 months manufacturers warranty remaining, I have just renewed the warranty with AM for 12 months at a cost of £1525. If you are looking to extend the warranty the key thing is to avoid the policy expiring otherwise you are faced with an extra bill of apparently around £500 for an AM inspection. I use my car daily so paying £1525 provided peace of mind especially when an AM dealer mentioned a new engine would cost £30k, whilst unlikely to happen it reminded me how much these cars can cost if something fails. When I got my car at 2.5 years old it had just under 12.5k miles since then I have added 5000. Soon after buying I had both clear rear lenses replaced due to really bad condensation, the cost for that job must of been over £1k.
My previous car was a Porsche 997 GTS which was a good car however the V8s is a different experience entirely & been a very worthwhile purchase.
James
XLR Motorsport said:
Slightly off topic, but still regarding the Timeless scheme. Bought my first V8V (MY2010) in May, main dealer.
As it was all a bit rushed, I noticed things after I got home. Firstly, front wheels were corroding (only slightly, bit it was only going to get worse). The dealer said they could be refurbished at my expense. I wasn't convinced. Neither were AM. So they've been done (side note: picked the car up yesterday, not happy with the quality of refurb).
Also, the car has swirl marks, a deep scratch in the lens of the offside headlamp, and lots of scratches around the tailgate. I just thought I had to accept this as it's a seven year old car.
So what does Timeless mean exactly? The rear lights had condensation build up when I bought the car and the dealer just swapped them over with another used V8V as opposed to putting new ones in.
I bet I can guess which main dealer that was. Problem is most of the things you mention are not warranty issues so it is vital to be happy with the condition of the car before handing over the cash.As it was all a bit rushed, I noticed things after I got home. Firstly, front wheels were corroding (only slightly, bit it was only going to get worse). The dealer said they could be refurbished at my expense. I wasn't convinced. Neither were AM. So they've been done (side note: picked the car up yesterday, not happy with the quality of refurb).
Also, the car has swirl marks, a deep scratch in the lens of the offside headlamp, and lots of scratches around the tailgate. I just thought I had to accept this as it's a seven year old car.
So what does Timeless mean exactly? The rear lights had condensation build up when I bought the car and the dealer just swapped them over with another used V8V as opposed to putting new ones in.
I'm quite sure it's open to interpretation.
When I bought my first V8V from a certain dealer on the A40 I viewed the car before it had been prepped. There was damage on the rear bumper - paint scratched but also deformity of the composite. I said I thought it needed a new bumper, the sales guy said he thought it would "pop out". I said I would be happy either way as long as I couldn't tell whether or not it had had a new bumper when I came back to pick it up in 10 days time. On collection day it was immediately obvious that they hadn't changed the bumper and whilst the deformity was better it was far from perfect. I should have walked away but didn't and spent the next 2 years regretting not having done so as my eye was constantly drawn to it. Having said that not all main dealers are the same but I would certainly never go there again.
When I bought my first V8V from a certain dealer on the A40 I viewed the car before it had been prepped. There was damage on the rear bumper - paint scratched but also deformity of the composite. I said I thought it needed a new bumper, the sales guy said he thought it would "pop out". I said I would be happy either way as long as I couldn't tell whether or not it had had a new bumper when I came back to pick it up in 10 days time. On collection day it was immediately obvious that they hadn't changed the bumper and whilst the deformity was better it was far from perfect. I should have walked away but didn't and spent the next 2 years regretting not having done so as my eye was constantly drawn to it. Having said that not all main dealers are the same but I would certainly never go there again.
I certainly don't regret getting the car. They'd had it so long on the forecourt that that shifted it to me at a good enough price so I can't really complain.
But after what started as a wonderful buying experience and a promising looking future as far as the relationship side of things went, I am beginning to feel like a second-class customer a little bit. Then I start thinking is it because I'm not their average customer and have bought one of the cheapest cars off their forecourt? I'm sure it probably isn't like that, but I definitely felt the mood turn a bit after AM stood up for me and told them to refurb the wheels.
But after what started as a wonderful buying experience and a promising looking future as far as the relationship side of things went, I am beginning to feel like a second-class customer a little bit. Then I start thinking is it because I'm not their average customer and have bought one of the cheapest cars off their forecourt? I'm sure it probably isn't like that, but I definitely felt the mood turn a bit after AM stood up for me and told them to refurb the wheels.
No, don't get me wrong, I didn't regret owning that car but I regret not insisting that they did what they'd agreed to do by making the bumper perfect. However, I had come a long way to pick up the car and didn't want a wasted trip - time is also precious.
Just a guess but I'm getting the feeling we're talking about the same dealership ......
Just a guess but I'm getting the feeling we're talking about the same dealership ......
I hope it's the car for you OP.
What's not been mentioned so far I don't think are your consumer rights, which are in addition to any 'warranty'; you are very well covered by this (I've successfully resorted to this in the past):
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-...
Having said that, my current 2007 V8V on 65k miles bought from a well known AM specialist has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Had it 2 years now (swapped it for a 996 Turbo) and apart from routine service items (and the inevitable rear lens replacement under 'warranty' due to misting), it's been absolutely faultless. Just had an AM Main Dealer service and MOT and to have the service manager say it was one of the most sorted he'd seen was very nice to hear.
Will be looking for a new experience soon (fancy a soft top this time as I've never owned one so mine will hit the open market next month) and I just hope that whatever I end up with is as pleasurable and reliable to own.
What's not been mentioned so far I don't think are your consumer rights, which are in addition to any 'warranty'; you are very well covered by this (I've successfully resorted to this in the past):
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-...
Having said that, my current 2007 V8V on 65k miles bought from a well known AM specialist has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Had it 2 years now (swapped it for a 996 Turbo) and apart from routine service items (and the inevitable rear lens replacement under 'warranty' due to misting), it's been absolutely faultless. Just had an AM Main Dealer service and MOT and to have the service manager say it was one of the most sorted he'd seen was very nice to hear.
Will be looking for a new experience soon (fancy a soft top this time as I've never owned one so mine will hit the open market next month) and I just hope that whatever I end up with is as pleasurable and reliable to own.
Muffster said:
Morning folks.
Is the issue with condensation in the lights more common in cars that are not kept in a garage or is it just pot luck?
I don't think it's uncommon (AM and beyond) and being kept outdoors won't help. However, other factors will be involved included the dreaded jet washing. From my experience when I was an automotive engineer, high pressure washing was always the most cruel test for any component. I hope it's not as commonly used on an AM, but you will never know how others have treated your car in the past.Is the issue with condensation in the lights more common in cars that are not kept in a garage or is it just pot luck?
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